Despite falling into a 2-0 hole against the New York Knicks in the Eastern Conference semifinals, Jaylen Brown remains confident the Boston Celtics can bounce back—starting by sticking to their identity.
Following a gut-wrenching 91-90 loss in Game 2 on Wednesday, Brown addressed the media with an air of determination. Though he and his teammates struggled mightily from beyond the arc, Brown is choosing to stay optimistic.
“What’s done is done,” Brown said. “We’ve got to make sure we’re ready to come out for Game 3. I think we’re due for a lot of makes. We had a lot of great looks tonight that just didn’t fall. We’ve got to relax, take a deep breath, and play Celtics basketball. Just like we’re down 0-2, we can tie this thing back up.”
Under head coach Joe Mazzulla, “Celtics basketball” has been synonymous with high-volume three-point shooting—a strategy that fueled their 2024 championship run. But so far in this series, the long ball has betrayed them.
Historic 3-Point Woes
Boston missed a playoff-record 45 threes in Game 1, going 15-for-60 from deep. Game 2 wasn’t much better: 30 more misfires brought their two-game total to a staggering 75 missed three-pointers.
Brown’s personal shooting woes have mirrored the team’s struggles. Over the first two games, he’s gone just 3-for-17 from beyond the arc and 15-for-43 from the field overall.
Brown Points to Offensive Breakdowns
While praising his team’s defensive effort, Brown pointed to the offense—and specifically the closing minutes—as the deciding factor in Game 2.
“We just weren’t able to convert in the fourth quarter,” he said. “That’s what it came down to. Our defense was great—we had physicality and energy—but our offense let us down.”
The loss was sealed in the final seconds when Knicks star Jalen Brunson put New York ahead by one with 12 seconds left. The Celtics opted not to call a timeout, allowing Jayson Tatum to bring the ball up. After Tatum got the switch on Mitchell Robinson and attacked, the Knicks’ defense swarmed. OG Anunoby offered help, and Mikal Bridges anticipated a pass, coming up with the game-winning steal.
Looking Ahead
As the series shifts to Boston for Game 3, the Celtics face a crucial test—not just of their shooting, but of their resolve. For Jaylen Brown, the answer is simple: trust their system, stay confident, and play the brand of basketball that got them here.